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Do you miss ireland while you live in london?

  • 09-01-2012 11:09pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭


    Just wondering really, do you guys Miss ireland in ways while you live in london?

    and do you love going back to ireland? and how do you feel in london right now have you got used to it?

    Just wondering really, thanks. :)


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 470 ✭✭Mc Kenzie


    Hiya!

    Off course! well from my own opinion i personally do. I ve been here about 6 months, iv gotten used to it here it was a really important time in my life when i decided to move as im sure it is for a lot of people, it was a new adventure, new beginning :) when i come home its the most exciting thing i appriciate it more then when i was there i just wanted to leave the small village im from. but i love it strangely.

    I havent planned how long ill be here or where ill be next but ireland always has a place in my heart, ..its home and i wont forget who i am and where im from.

    But thats just me ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    Besides the banter not much , last time I was home was 20 years ago, and couldn't wait to get out of the place


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    I miss my friends there, but I don't miss living there. I know I'd go bananas if I moved back, because for all that I might miss Tayto or breakfast rolls or being able to wander down the street and bump into three people I know within ten minutes, I couldn't stand to go back to having my entire social life revolve around being in the pub.

    It's nice to get back now and then to visit friends or family, but to be honest these days I get over once every few months and that's fine. I've been here over four years now (almost as long as I lived in Cork) and as far as I'm concerned this is home.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,396 ✭✭✭Tefral


    Im only here about 6 weeks and I have to say I hate every minute of it. I suppose ive only just moved into a house share, and previous to that I was living out of hotel which makes things just ****e.

    I have a long term girlfriend back home and thats all I want to do is get back there. Ive a flight booked home almost every weekend.

    I know it might look like im not giving myself a chance but ive no choice as I want to see my other half.

    Coming back here after xmas was complete torture for me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 122 ✭✭Fenny


    cronin_j wrote: »
    Im only here about 6 weeks and I have to say I hate every minute of it. I suppose ive only just moved into a house share, and previous to that I was living out of hotel which makes things just ****e.

    I have a long term girlfriend back home and thats all I want to do is get back there. Ive a flight booked home almost every weekend.

    I know it might look like im not giving myself a chance but ive no choice as I want to see my other half.

    Coming back here after xmas was complete torture for me.

    I think six weeks is a fairly common point to feel homesick and to want to go back. I definitely felt that way once the novelty of being in a new place wore off. I don't think going home every other weekend is that bad in itself, it's just important to enjoy yourself when you're actually in London. If you've just moved into a houseshare and the people are sound, that might be a good start. Have your family/friends/girlfriend visited you in London? I found that was a really nice way of feeling more comfortable here - when friends came over and I got to show them around and see what is a pretty amazing city through fresh eyes. And sometimes having your family over here for a little while makes you realise that it's not necessarily Ireland you're missing, but just people you're close to. It's daunting having to build a new circle away from home, but so many people have done it before! It just takes time.

    I'm here about seven months so I still feel a bit out of place at times, and definitely miss family/friends badly. But I'm starting to appreciate that what you put in, you really do get back out. So many amazing things to do pretty much all of the time. I wouldn't go back home, even if it would feel easier to do sometimes.

    Doesn't stop me from booking a sneaky Ryanair flight back every while though!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭ICANN


    I do miss Ireland when I'm here but I actually miss home more when I'm there!! As in when I was home at Christmas I really realised what I was missing as when I'm here I'm able to block out feelings etc!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭Viral Vector


    I was studying in London for 12 months, back home now!

    Missed Tayto and Club Orange the most! :P

    Although now I miss Wetherspoons and their amazing prices and the Swan in Clapham! :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭growler


    After 15 years I still miss Ireland regularly, I miss my friends, family, being able to drive to the beach in 10 minutes and not be surrounded by people all the time. I still want to go back someday, but not likely while the country is the way it is, and i hate paying Irish prices!

    I never really got homesick as there were 10 of my friends moved here at the same time and our expanded network of irish mates meant that, socially, it was almost like we had never left!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    What I miss about Dublin is the lack of crowds compared to this madhouse. And the sea. I used to love cycling in Dublin too it's not the same here.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    Besides the banter not much , last time I was home was 20 years ago, and couldn't wait to get out of the place

    Were you visiting your old industrial school or something? Ireland is a lovely place to visit!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    BraziliaNZ wrote: »
    Were you visiting your old industrial school or something? Ireland is a lovely place to visit!

    Not if you are in the middle of west cork in winter, no car and everybody your own age has gone


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    Not if you are in the middle of west cork in winter, no car and everybody your own age has gone

    hmmmm ok I hadn't considered that :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,096 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    I've been here 18 months now and for the first few weeks I was homesick and skint, then got a bit fed up as I had no job, then liked it, then feel deep into hating it and wanting to be anywhere but London. I have found that the past few months have been a lot easier and I have thrown myself into social circumstances I might not necessarily do in Ireland, but I am likely to be here for the forseeable future so best make it work.. I don't live in the most up and coming exciting area (no organic markets here I can tell ya!) but it's cheaper rent wise and we have nice quiet elderly neighbours (!)

    I do have days where I get quite down and sad about it, and wonder about the future and will I ever make friends like the ones at home, but more and more when I go home I see people emmigrating out of Ireland so there is less and less holding me there... I walkde down Shop St in Galway and recognised no one!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    I can't say I've ever felt homesick really. I did feel a bit sad when I was leaving Dublin after Christmas, but I think that was more down to the fact that I felt like I hadn't really spent any quality time with anyone - I could only stay for 5 nights and it felt like I spent the whole time rushing around making sure I saw everyone I had to see.

    Generally speaking, I don't think I could pick a favourite between London and Dublin - there are things I like about both and there are things I dislike. Too many to list here. I may end up living back in Dublin at some point, but I don't think I'd be overly disappointed if I never do. That said, I can't really see myself spending the rest of my life in London - too bloody expensive apart from anything else!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Been here since 99. Missed home at first but now, I've made London my home for all it's ills and thrills :)

    It's very different now over here; it reminds me of the late 80s when I used to visit; Irish everywhere!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    old hippy wrote: »
    Been here since 99. Missed home at first but now, I've made London my home for all it's ills and thrills :)

    It's very different now over here; it reminds me of the late 80s when I used to visit; Irish everywhere!

    Not as bad, not seen any 14/15 year olds yet


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Not as bad, not seen any 14/15 year olds yet

    :confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    old hippy wrote: »
    :confused:

    You referred to the late eighties and was pointing out the difference is the age

    (Worked with a couple of 15/16 year olds on the sites in the late eighties )

    The wans coming over are much older


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 350 ✭✭ICANN


    You referred to the late eighties and was pointing out the difference is the age

    (Worked with a couple of 15/16 year olds on the sites in the late eighties )

    The wans coming over are much older

    That sounds like the late 50s and 60s more than the 80s.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    ICANN wrote: »
    That sounds like the late 50s and 60s more than the 80s.

    It was still going on though


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    You referred to the late eighties and was pointing out the difference is the age

    (Worked with a couple of 15/16 year olds on the sites in the late eighties )

    The wans coming over are much older

    Ah, right. I think that sites are more regulated & under the watchful eyes of health & safety, these days.

    I didn't automatically make the connection between Irish immigrants and building sites ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,276 ✭✭✭Alessandra


    Sometimes. I miss nights out in Ireland. People ate friendlier so it's easier to get chatting. People here don't branch out of their comfort zone too much.

    Miss my family at times but satisfy that by going home sometimes at half term. Can't see myself returning home lOngterm at any point in the near future though.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Alessandra wrote: »
    Sometimes. I miss nights out in Ireland. People ate friendlier so it's easier to get chatting. People here don't branch out of their comfort zone too much.

    Miss my family at times but satisfy that by going home sometimes at half term. Can't see myself returning home lOngterm at any point in the near future though.

    I think it depends where you socialise; my local is very friendly. And I've probably met more people over the years who genuinely want to talk than back home. Possibly ;)

    I do miss the spontanaeity, though.

    Perhaps the boards Londoners should arrange a meet up, eh? Be spontaneous :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    old hippy wrote: »
    I think it depends where you socialise; my local is very friendly. And I've probably met more people over the years who genuinely want to talk than back home. Possibly ;)

    I do miss the spontanaeity, though.

    Perhaps the boards Londoners should arrange a meet up, eh? Be spontaneous :D

    Make sure it be a pub with a snug, so we can manage the split


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    Make sure it be a pub with a snug, so we can manage the split

    Mmm. I can think of one or two around the Notting Hill area...


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    old hippy wrote: »
    Perhaps the boards Londoners should arrange a meet up, eh? Be spontaneous :D

    *cough cough* ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭I.S.T.


    I was studying in London for 12 months, back home now!

    Missed Tayto and Club Orange the most! :P

    Although now I miss Wetherspoons and their amazing prices and the Swan in Clapham! :(

    This little shop in Tooting sells Tayto, Club Orange and all thing Irish!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭iamthe43


    A very interesting topic, and I’m glad it has been asked…Im in London 12 months now.
    There are certain things I miss about home. (Note that I call it home and not Ireland)
    I miss my family, especially my parents. I miss my friends. I miss the area I come from. I miss walking into my pub and my barman hands me a Guinness without fail. I miss being able to leave my wallet, phone and keys at the bar when I go to the toilet or out for a smoke.
    That said. I won’t move back to Ireland for a long long time. I can’t. Don’t get me wrong; I love being Irish, but I can’t stand Ireland.


    I don’t miss being out of work. I don’t miss seeing my town go further and further down the swanny. I don’t miss seeing my friends out of work. I don’t miss the pettiness in my local village. I don’t miss the Irish way of doing things.

    It is sad to say, but every time I go home (about every 4 months or so), there are fewer and fewer shops trading. It really is sad because there are so many trying their best.

    And if you miss home…all you have to do is go to the passport office on Cromwell road(ironic or what!?!) and hang around the waiting area. It’ll piss ya right off!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,598 ✭✭✭cashback


    Alessandra wrote: »
    Sometimes. I miss nights out in Ireland. People ate friendlier so it's easier to get chatting. People here don't branch out of their comfort zone too much.

    I have found that to be true. It feels like people here need a fortnight's notice to go for a few pints. Well, not everyone but in general, people are less spontaneous.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,049 ✭✭✭Brianderunner


    Very little i miss about Ireland tbh now after 14 months here in London. I fly home every month or so and do all the things i want to do, like sporting events, road races, etc, i.e. catch the highlights and skip the lowlights. Every time i go back i can't believe how sh*t Ireland actually is in comparison to London, regardless of whether its Dublin or my hometown Limerick, how small minded and petty everyone is, how crap the transport is and how bloody expensive everything is there. Never sad to leave the place, but i'm very close to my family so the monthly trips home (as well as a few trips over for them) keep the relationships going.

    That being said i'm lucky London is the city i happened to find a job in. I couldnt see myself living in any other city in England or indeed Europe now that i have a taste for London and i do look at the departure boards in airports and say to myself thank fck i'm flying back to London and not some of those other places like Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    cashback wrote: »
    I have found that to be true. It feels like people here need a fortnight's notice to go for a few pints. Well, not everyone but in general, people are less spontaneous.

    There are several things that play into this, though:
    • There's a lot more to do in London than just head out on the beer, so it's not necessarily the default plan on any given night. If you go to a lot of gigs or shows, you'll be planning weeks or months in advance anyway, and thus you know when you'll be free.
    • TFL is great, but people can be lazy about heading out at short notice if they know they've got an hour (or more) of travel in each direction (especially on a weeknight).
    • Some people agree to do half a dozen things on any given night and choose which one of them to do at the last minute, then bail on the rest. They're known colloquially as "bellends".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    iamthe43 wrote: »
    I miss being able to leave my wallet, phone and keys at the bar when I go to the toilet or out for a smoke.
    There is absolutely no way I would leave my valuables on a bar anywhere in Ireland.
    iamthe43 wrote: »
    I don’t miss the Irish way of doing things.
    The Irish way of doing things? What way is that?
    Every time i go back i can't believe how sh*t Ireland actually is in comparison to London, regardless of whether its Dublin or my hometown Limerick, how small minded and petty everyone is, how crap the transport is and how bloody expensive everything is there. Never sad to leave the place, but i'm very close to my family so the monthly trips home (as well as a few trips over for them) keep the relationships going.

    That being said i'm lucky London is the city i happened to find a job in. I couldnt see myself living in any other city in England or indeed Europe now that i have a taste for London and i do look at the departure boards in airports and say to myself thank fck i'm flying back to London and not some of those other places like Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.
    With all due respect, that is the biggest pile of uninformed ****e I’ve read on this site for some time.

    Ireland is not ****. Not by a long way. I dare say you’ve not seen much of the world if you think things are really that bad there. Granted, transport needs investment, especially outside Dublin, but labelling the entire country as petty and small-minded is downright ridiculous. Don’t ever forget – you’re living in a city that elected Boris Johnson as its mayor. Take a moment to think about that before you go casting aspersions on an entire country.

    As for “expensive” – Ireland is more expensive than London? Seriously?

    Not content with espousing ignorant generalisations about Ireland, you’ve decided to have a swipe at the entire UK outside London too. Have you actually visited Glasgow or Manchester, for example? Because they’ve got a lot going for them and I’d quite happily live in either. Civilisation doesn’t end at the M25, you know.

    I cannot stand this “everything about Ireland is utter ****e” attitude that I encounter all too often among Irish immigrants in the UK.


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    djpbarry wrote: »
    There is absolutely no way I would leave my valuables on a bar anywhere in Ireland.

    I was thinking the same thing :D
    djpbarry wrote: »
    Ireland is not ****. Not by a long way. I dare say you’ve not seen much of the world if you think things are really that bad there. Granted, transport needs investment, especially outside Dublin, but labelling the entire country as petty and small-minded is downright ridiculous. Don’t ever forget – you’re living in a city that elected Boris Johnson as its mayor. Take a moment to think about that before you go casting aspersions on an entire country.

    It may not be fair to tar the entire country with that brush, but Ireland as a nation is most definitely small-c conservative and I can certainly understand that the feeling of freedom that moving to somewhere as culturally varied as London can make home look fairly rubbish by comparison. That said, it can be easy to forget that London has downsides too, or that there are other great places in the UK and the rest of Europe.

    I know from my own experience that a much greater proportion of otherwise-sensible I knew in Cork would be making googly-eyes at me if I told them that I was off the beer for no particular reason than I would get here. I know where that reaction comes from, culturally, but it's still a pretty sad state of affairs.

    I don't agree with everything Brianderruner said, but I do think that Ireland, despite the progress that has been made in terms of cultural diversity over the last 20 years or so, is conservative. I find it funny (in both the haha and the peculiar senses) that there are people I know today who still think that being a blow-in makes someone's opinions or actions less valid (in saying that, I'm biased as I've been a blow-in my entire life).

    djpbarry wrote: »
    As for “expensive” – Ireland is more expensive than London? Seriously?

    Yep. Not as much now as it was about 5 years ago, but when I moved over here four and a bit years ago the only thing that cost me more here than back home was rent.

    Prices have come down in Ireland, I'll give you that, but I still find it shocking that if I head out for some food and a few drinks it will definitely cost me more in Cork or Dublin than it will here. It's not just that there are some great cheap food places here, it's that everyone at home has for some reason accepted that ~€5 for a drink is somehow normal (I assume this is because almost all social activity back home seems to orbit the pub, therefore people feel like they can't do much about it).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Fysh wrote: »
    It may not be fair to tar the entire country with that brush, but Ireland as a nation is most definitely small-c conservative...
    Relative to the UK? I really don’t know about that.

    I suppose I’m comparing London to Dublin really, rather than the rest of the country. But, Brianderunner was referring to the whole of Ireland, so that includes Dublin, and I think it is absolutely ridiculous to label the entire population of Dublin as small-minded and petty – that’s just plain crazy.
    Fysh wrote: »
    Prices have come down in Ireland, I'll give you that, but I still find it shocking that if I head out for some food and a few drinks it will definitely cost me more in Cork or Dublin than it will here.
    Well, that depends on where you go, but generally, yes, eating out in particular is very expensive in Ireland – I won’t dispute that. But factoring in all expenses, the huge rents alone would ensure that London is going to come out on top in the cost of living stakes.
    Fysh wrote: »
    It's not just that there are some great cheap food places here, it's that everyone at home has for some reason accepted that ~€5 for a drink is somehow normal (I assume this is because almost all social activity back home seems to orbit the pub, therefore people feel like they can't do much about it).
    I don’t know about Cork, but there are plenty of places in Dublin where pints are far less than €5. To be honest, I would say the price of a pint in Dublin and London is comparable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Fysh wrote: »
    It may not be fair to tar the entire country with that brush, but Ireland as a nation is most definitely small-c conservative...
    Relative to the UK? I really don’t know about that.

    I suppose I’m comparing London to Dublin really, rather than the rest of the country. But, Brianderunner was referring to the whole of Ireland, so that includes Dublin, and I think it is absolutely ridiculous to label the entire population of Dublin as small-minded and petty.

    More generally, it’s ridiculously simplistic to say that London is amazing while everywhere else in the UK and Ireland is ****e. That is incredibly small-minded and there are enough native Londoners espousing such nonsense already without Irish immigrants joining them.

    I should qualify all that by saying that I certainly don’t think Dublin (or Ireland) is amazing – there are plenty of things I don’t like about it. But, there are plenty of things I dislike about London too.
    Fysh wrote: »
    Prices have come down in Ireland, I'll give you that, but I still find it shocking that if I head out for some food and a few drinks it will definitely cost me more in Cork or Dublin than it will here.
    Well, that depends on where you go, but generally, yes, eating out in particular is very expensive in Ireland – I won’t dispute that. But factoring in all expenses, the huge rents in London alone would ensure that London is going to come out on top in the cost of living stakes.
    Fysh wrote: »
    It's not just that there are some great cheap food places here, it's that everyone at home has for some reason accepted that ~€5 for a drink is somehow normal (I assume this is because almost all social activity back home seems to orbit the pub, therefore people feel like they can't do much about it).
    I don’t know about Cork, but there are plenty of places in Dublin where pints are far less than €5. To be honest, I would say the price of a pint in Dublin and London is comparable.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 470 ✭✭Mc Kenzie


    Very little i miss about Ireland tbh now after 14 months here in London. I fly home every month or so and do all the things i want to do, like sporting events, road races, etc, i.e. catch the highlights and skip the lowlights. Every time i go back i can't believe how sh*t Ireland actually is in comparison to London, regardless of whether its Dublin or my hometown Limerick, how small minded and petty everyone is, how crap the transport is and how bloody expensive everything is there. Never sad to leave the place, but i'm very close to my family so the monthly trips home (as well as a few trips over for them) keep the relationships going.

    That being said i'm lucky London is the city i happened to find a job in. I couldnt see myself living in any other city in England or indeed Europe now that i have a taste for London and i do look at the departure boards in airports and say to myself thank fck i'm flying back to London and not some of those other places like Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, etc.

    Where is your Patriotism man!

    Gosh its as if some people who have moved to london from ireland have became snobbish" to Ireland it is rare tho. and i also find that silly that you would bash the rest of uk..have you been there! ugh. Manchester is a great place and the people in my opinion are quite nice.

    I was born in london, basicly reared in ireland, and iv always to been proud of my routes even as i child before my family moved to ireland......shame on you!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 138 ✭✭iamthe43


    What do you mean "shame on you"...The man is entitled to his opinion

    And I kind of agree with him. It is very difficult not to notice the differences when one returns home to Ireland.

    And London is, in my opinion, far from the best city in the UK, but if thats where the work is, then so be it...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    djpbarry wrote: »
    Don’t ever forget – you’re living in a city that elected Boris Johnson as its mayor. Take a moment to think about that before you go casting aspersions on an entire country.

    Oi - Leave Boris out of it, he's a great geezer & a breath of fresh air compared to that old 'Red Ken', Boris has personally overseen the introduction of the new hop on/ hop off Bus for London, three cheers for Boris & his bus! Yes he's an accentric, and he's as mad as a box of frogs (but in a nice way) :)

    >


    Picture of the Boris Bus for London > http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Boris_bus_rear.jpg

    As somebody who spent many years in London/Greater London, my reply to the OP would be to enjoy yourself, steep yourself in the city and live the life, and I'm not talking 'loads a money' just the excitement of living in one of the most brilliant Cities in the world! Ireland will always be here to come back to, (it aint going anywhere you know). Live out your fanticies in London and get stuck in while you are still young :) find a new girl??? live together, live the life & build up a catalogue of memories for when you return to Ireland in twenty years time? London really is a great place to live & party, so go on and have a blast, I did, and I'm not sorry!

    Of course you will be home sick from time to time, work may be scarce too, that goes without saying, but keep going and don't give up. I too remember the pain of seperation from family (and the girl friend), but Ireland is so close to London when you think about it, and you can count your lucky stars that you are in London (& not in Sydney), or some other City on the other side of the Planet. Ireland will be here for you when you return, and yes, it will seem very slow & behind the pace, (which it is) when compared to London, so when you come home for visits don't compare, and don't knock slow old Ireland, (everything is slow after living in London), so enjoy Dublin & Ireland for what it is, it aint London, and that's part of the beauty and the magic of coming Home.

    PS; I think that bloke in the LBC clip is Irish!


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Regional Abroad Moderators Posts: 11,106 Mod ✭✭✭✭Fysh


    Mod hat on:
    Alright lads, let's dial back the tempers a bit. If you think someonels posted something a bit silly by all means explain why you think they're wrong, but don't be rude or confrontational about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,049 ✭✭✭Brianderunner


    djpbarry wrote: »
    There is absolutely no way I would leave my valuables on a bar anywhere in Ireland.
    The Irish way of doing things? What way is that?
    With all due respect, that is the biggest pile of uninformed ****e I’ve read on this site for some time.

    Ireland is not ****. Not by a long way. I dare say you’ve not seen much of the world if you think things are really that bad there. Granted, transport needs investment, especially outside Dublin, but labelling the entire country as petty and small-minded is downright ridiculous. Don’t ever forget – you’re living in a city that elected Boris Johnson as its mayor. Take a moment to think about that before you go casting aspersions on an entire country.

    As for “expensive” – Ireland is more expensive than London? Seriously?

    Not content with espousing ignorant generalisations about Ireland, you’ve decided to have a swipe at the entire UK outside London too. Have you actually visited Glasgow or Manchester, for example? Because they’ve got a lot going for them and I’d quite happily live in either. Civilisation doesn’t end at the M25, you know.

    I cannot stand this “everything about Ireland is utter ****e” attitude that I encounter all too often among Irish immigrants in the UK.

    No temper from me, i'll try and explain my viewpoints.

    The reason i think Ireland is sh*te is that i have seen a good part of the world (the western world at least), after visiting Toronto the penny really dropped and i haven't thought about Ireland the same since.

    I've zero interest in politics (thank fck) so the Boris Johnson comment means nothing whatsoever to me, even if you have a point. Irish people are petty and small minded yes. The cultchies with their small town gossip and the Dubs with their superiority complex over the rest of the country. It makes me laugh when i see it from the outside looking in.

    Dublin transport needs a huge amount of investing, it took me an hour to get from the main gate in Phoenix Park to Clontarf a few weeks ago, if that was London you can be sure there'd be a train nearby and i'd be there in minutes. Also don't get me started on getting to Dublin Airport. The Luas green line and the Dart/commuter line are the only things going for Dublin transport, the rest is a mess. My thesis was on Dublin transport so i know what i'm saying.

    I wouldnt say i was having a pop at the rest of the uk, just in comparison to London i'm glad i'm not living in them, and yes i've been to all the big cities in the UK. I would rate Birmingham as a much better city than Dublin for example.

    Rent aside, yes Ireland is definitely more expensive than London. I spend a fortune every time i'm home cause of the (as Fysh mentioned) 5 euro pints, and ripoff food in bars, taxi's etc due to the slow or non existant public transport.

    At the end of the day it's all about opinions, if i think London is better and you think Ireland is then fair enough, no need to have a drawn out argument about it. We can agree to disagree.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭djpbarry


    Irish people are petty and small minded yes. The cultchies with their small town gossip and the Dubs with their superiority complex over the rest of the country.
    Dude, people can be petty and small minded, yes. Country folk with their small town gossip and the city-dwellers with their superiority complex. That can apply to any country. Londoners don’t have a superiority complex? Parisians? New Yorkers?
    Dublin transport needs a huge amount of investing, it took me an hour to get from the main gate in Phoenix Park to Clontarf a few weeks ago, if that was London you can be sure there'd be a train nearby and i'd be there in minutes.
    My missus’ folks live about a 15 minute drive from us here in London. Doing the journey by public transport takes about an hour. That doesn’t mean London transport is a mess.

    That’s not to say that public transport in Dublin doesn’t need improving, but picking one particular journey to illustrate your point is a bit silly.
    I would rate Birmingham as a much better city than Dublin for example.
    I doubt you will find many people will agree with you. If Birmingham is so much better than Dublin, you’d think it would feature a little higher on quality of life indices, wouldn’t you? Granted, such surveys should be taken with a pinch of salt, but Dublin is consistently ranked higher than any UK city.
    Rent aside, yes Ireland is definitely more expensive than London.
    That’s kind of silly – you can’t say if we ignore x, y and z, London is cheap. Eating out in London is cheaper because people have less disposable income than in Dublin, for example.
    At the end of the day it's all about opinions, if i think London is better and you think Ireland is...
    I didn’t say that. What I said was that I don’t believe Ireland is ****e. That’s not patriotism, that’s just common sense. Personally, I don’t really have a preference between London and Dublin – there are pros and cons to both.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    Why are people even comparing Ireland to London? London is a megacity and one of the most important and powerful cities in the world, which houses all walks of life.
    I think Dublin is great, lovely people and a nice setting in the bay. The pub tran is crap but I can cycle from my parents house to town at a relaxed pace in 25 minutes. I can hastily lock my bike wherever I want and it never got touched in 7 years. I found it cheaper to get good food in Dublin before I left than it is here, in a sit down nice restauant that is. I also find the service in restaurants and bars far superior in Dublin.
    Either way they both have their good points, people saying Ireland and Dublin are sh*t because they don't have a tube or every race and nation under the sun living there are foolish really, it's like comparing chalk and cheese.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    This little shop in Tooting sells Tayto, Club Orange and all thing Irish!

    Ah, that looks like Mandy's to me. Used to frequent it often, excellent shop.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    old hippy wrote: »
    Ah, that looks like Mandy's to me. Used to frequent it often, excellent shop.

    Cool! Not too far from Brixton, might cycle over at the weekend :D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    BraziliaNZ wrote: »
    Cool! Not too far from Brixton, might cycle over at the weekend :D

    Not too far at all. It's the oddest place, they have all the regional papers, food, softdrinks, claddagh rings and statues of Mary :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 609 ✭✭✭duffarama


    BraziliaNZ wrote: »
    Cool! Not too far from Brixton, might cycle over at the weekend :D

    There's an Irish shop in East Dulwich as well which would be a nice cycle from Brixton as well, on Lordship Lane. You could check out Herne Hill on the way, nice little part of London


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    duffarama wrote: »
    There's an Irish shop in East Dulwich as well which would be a nice cycle from Brixton as well, on Lordship Lane. You could check out Herne Hill on the way, nice little part of London

    Yeah HH is near, I'm the Brixton side of Brockwell, it's nice around there but the pubs are a bit too middle classy yummy mummy for my liking!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 609 ✭✭✭duffarama


    BraziliaNZ wrote: »
    Yeah HH is near, I'm the Brixton side of Brockwell, it's nice around there but the pubs are a bit too middle classy yummy mummy for my liking!

    There's 1 place near there which isn't, the Half Moon is a nice spit and sawdust kinda place. Without spit or sawdust... :rolleyes:

    I live in West Dulwich, I have zero options for a pint near the house! The 2 bars beside me are dreadfully middle class and devoid of atmosphere. I tend to drink in Tulse Hill if I want something 'local'


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,441 ✭✭✭old hippy


    BraziliaNZ wrote: »
    Yeah HH is near, I'm the Brixton side of Brockwell, it's nice around there but the pubs are a bit too middle classy yummy mummy for my liking!

    Have you checked out the Prince Albert, yet?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,671 ✭✭✭BraziliaNZ


    old hippy wrote: »
    Have you checked out the Prince Albert, yet?

    Yeah they do nice Guinness but it's not my type of place. A bit too posh for my liking. It's the ultimate gastro pub!
    I saw Tracey Barlow there recently from Coronation st if anyone knows who she is, she eyed me up! Pretty hot in real life too, very tall, she lives in East Dulwich


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